Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now

Stories from August 2, 2021

Long-time activist K.G. Wilson to leave Minneapolis

Long-time activist K.G. Wilson to leave Minneapolis

K.G. Wilson has devoted years of his life to keeping kids out of gangs, guns off the streets and to supporting families struck by gun violence. He joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about his decision to leave Minneapolis after his nearly 20-year tenure in the city. 
by Cathy Wurzer and Ariana Rosas

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

U of M brings back mask mandate

The University of Minnesota is bringing back its mask mandate, after an uptick in COVID-19 cases nationwide related to the Delta variant.  In a message to faculty, students and staff, University President Joan Gabel says she’s reinstituting the mask mandate starting Tuesday. This is an MPR News evening update for Monday, August 2, 2021. Hosted by Dan Kraker. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.  

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
First Avenue requires vaccination or negative test for all shows

First Avenue requires vaccination or negative test for all shows

The policy — effective immediately — applies to shows at First Avenue’s Mainroom and 7th St Entry, the Palace Theatre, the Fitzgerald Theater, the Fine Line and the Turf Club.
by Jay Gabler

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Japan rallies against bullpen to beat U.S. 7-6 in 10 innings

Japan rallies against bullpen to beat U.S. 7-6 in 10 innings

Yuki Yanagita tied it with an RBI grounder off Scott McGough in the ninth inning, Takuya Kai hit a winning single against Edwin Jackson in the 10th and Japan beat the United States 7-6 Monday night to reach the Olympic semifinals.
by The Associated Press

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Vikings in QB shortage, with Cousins out for COVID protocols

Vikings in QB shortage, with Cousins out for COVID protocols

The Minnesota Vikings have started their second week of training camp with a severe shortage of quarterbacks, with Kirk Cousins and two of his backups sidelined under COVID-19 protocols.
by The Associated Press

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
COVID-19 in MN: New, active cases rising but no big surge seen

COVID-19 in MN: New, active cases rising but no big surge seen

Minnesota continues to see COVID-19 cases edging higher, but the summer swing shows no signs yet of racing out of control. The state has no plans or power to return to a statewide masking order, the health commissioner said Monday.
by MPR News Staff

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Here's what's included in the bipartisan infrastructure bill

Here's what's included in the bipartisan infrastructure bill

The price tag comes in at roughly $1 trillion, with $550 billion in new spending over five years. The funding goes toward roads and bridges as well as broadband and electric vehicles.
by Barbara Sprunt

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
'We've had enough': Law enforcement frustrated by continued speeding

'We've had enough': Law enforcement frustrated by continued speeding

Public safety officials say they are fed up with speeding drivers in Minnesota. They say speed is the largest contributing factor to more than 90 fatal crashes, which are up more than 40 percent from last year.
by Mark Zdechlik

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
The latest on COVID-19 and the delta variant

The latest on COVID-19 and the delta variant

The CDC issued revised masking guidelines after a recent study based on a new cluster of COVID-19 cases among fully vaccinated people shows that the delta variant is more contagious than previously thought. MPR News host Kerri Miller gets us the latest on the delta-driven surge in new infections and help sort through what we know and what we don’t.
by Kerri Miller and Ariana Rosas

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
U of M orders indoor masking amid latest COVID-19 wave

U of M orders indoor masking amid latest COVID-19 wave

The requirement applies to all University of Minnesota campuses and offices statewide starting Tuesday as concerns rise about the delta variant’s growth across the state.
by Peter Cox

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Watch Olympians with Minnesota ties: Here's the early-week lineup

Watch Olympians with Minnesota ties: Here's the early-week lineup

Minnesota athletes continue to compete against the tough global competition in the Olympic games, and three Minnesota athletes claimed medals over the weekend. We’ve got a summary of athletes to watch and what happened over the weekend.
by Matt Mikus

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Talking Volumes 2021 season guide

Talking Volumes 2021 season guide

Join host Kerri Miller as she welcomes — in person! — an amazing lineup of writers to the stage. From deeply loved Minnesota novelists to huge New York Times bestsellers, you won’t want to miss this lineup.
by MPR News Staff

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
10 unique storylines to follow in the final stretch of the Tokyo Olympics

10 unique storylines to follow in the final stretch of the Tokyo Olympics

The swimmers are now leaving Japan and the spotlight moves to the track and field events at Olympic Stadium. We'll walk you through the biggest things to watch for until the closing ceremony.
by Merrit Kennedy, Leila Fadel, Tom Goldman, Laurel Wamsley and Russell Lewis

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

CDC recommends indoor masking for many Minnesota counties

With the rise of the delta variant, the CDC recommends even vaccinated people wear a mask indoors in areas where community transmission is substantial or high. This is an MPR News morning update for Monday, August 2, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.  

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

Air quality concerns continue Monday

Monday will be a comfortable day for early August with seasonable temperatures and low humidity, but smoke remains a concern.
by Nicole Mitchell

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
It's in and it's big: Senate unveils $1T infrastructure bill

It's in and it's big: Senate unveils $1T infrastructure bill

A key part of Joe Biden's agenda, the bipartisan bill is the first phase of the president's infrastructure plan. It calls for $550 billion in new spending over five years above projected federal levels, in what could be one of the more substantial expenditures on the nation's roads, bridges, waterworks, broadband and the electric grid in years.
by The Associated Press

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
New month, worsening drought conditions in Minnesota

New month, worsening drought conditions in Minnesota

After one of the driest Julys on record in parts of Minnesota, the drought conditions affecting the region show no signs of letting up to start the month of August.
by MPR News Staff

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Simone Biles will return for the Olympic balance beam final

Simone Biles will return for the Olympic balance beam final

"We are so excited to confirm that you will see two U.S. athletes in the balance beam final tomorrow — Suni Lee AND Simone Biles!!" USA Gymnastics said. Biles had withdrawn from other events.
by The Associated Press

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Amid uptick in bear encounters, Superior National Forest enacts new food storage order

Amid uptick in bear encounters, Superior National Forest enacts new food storage order

Officials in northern Minnesota's Superior National Forest say they're seeing an uptick in bear encounters this summer — so what had been longstanding food storage recommendations for visitors are now required.
by MPR News Staff

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Flood watches in parts of western U.S. as mudslides close major interstate

Flood watches in parts of western U.S. as mudslides close major interstate

Mudslides from heavy rains caused "extreme damage” to a major interstate and left it blocked with piles of boulders and logs, Colorado transportation officials said Sunday, as forecasters warned of more flash floods in the coming days.
by The Associated Press

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!